Embattled Woods thanks staff, fans for supporting tourney

Thousand Oaks (California):

Tiger Woods, absent from his annual Chevron World Challenge amid a storm of scandal, issued a statement thanking staff, fans and sponsors for keeping the charity event afloat.

Woods acknowledged sponsors for their contribution to the Tiger Woods Foundation, which offers educational resources to disadvantaged children.

He thanked foundation staff and volunteers "who collectively produce this first-class golf tournament." "I am so grateful to them for their efforts, and I am sincerely sorry I was unable to fulfill my duties as host and player in this important event," Woods said in a statement posted on his website on Sunday.

Woods' latest website statement made no mention of the circumstances surrounding his withdrawal from the event on Monday, when he said injuries received in a mysterious one-car crash the previous on Friday would prevent him from travelling from Florida.

Reports of the crash were quickly enmeshed in tabloid reports of marital infidelity, an explosion of speculation on the state of Woods's marriage and, finally, a website statement admission from Woods of "transgressions" in his personal life.

"Lastly, I'd like to thank our fans for continuing to support us," Woods said. "Like them, I am extremely dedicated to this tournament, to my Foundation and the millions of young lives we serve. Thank you all for your support."